Heights Raiders Best Elmwood Park 21-19

Jake Diaz rushed for three touchdowns as the Hasbrouck Heights Raiders avenged their only loss of the season, 21-19, over Elmwood Park on Sunday afternoon in Elmwood Park. With the win, the Raiders (9-1) advance to the Pee-Wee Division Super Bowl of the Meadowlands Football League for the third straight season.

Diaz opened the scoring with a long touchdown run down the right side on the Raiders second possession of the first quarter. The Raiders extended the lead to 14-0 early in the second quarter, after the Raiders defense caused the Elmwood Park running back to fumble. Anthony DiLascio recovered, and the Raiders took over at midfield.  A few plays later, Diaz once again took a handoff from quarterback Nick Cuccio and broke a long touchdown run around right end, for a 14-0 lead. 

The Raiders offensive line, Bryan Formisano, Travis Lee, Kevin Campen, Chris Condon, Blake Freschi, Justin Wexler, Collin Polakowski all had key blocks on Diaz’s long dashes, as did fullback Hunter Freschi.

Elmwood Park bounced back, scoring a touchdown late in the second quarter to cut the lead 14-7 at the half.  The Bombers, continued their comeback in the third quarter, scoring to cut the lead to 14-13. A key stop by the left side of the Raiders defense would prove to be a turning point in the game.

Up by one point, Diaz scored once again on a long run, and for the third time on the day, converted the point after conversion, giving the Raiders an eight-point lead, 21-13. 

Elmwood Park bounced back, scoring to cut the Raiders lead to 21-19 with four minutes remaining in the game.  Down two points, the Bombers went for a two-point conversion to tie the game.

In the Meadowlands Football League, the rules for PATs are the reverse of all other levels of football, with a kicked extra point being worth two points, and a run or pass for a conversion worth one.

The Raiders line broke through and broke up the rare kicked point after touchdown conversion try, and the Raiders maintained their 21-19 lead.  Blake Freschi recovered the ensuing onside kick, and the Raiders tried to run out the clock.

But Elmwood Park held on defense, getting the ball back with under two minutes left in the game.  The Raider defense held one final time, stopping the Bombers a yard short of a first down on fourth and ten, as the clock expired. 

“The boys all played hard, and they did it all four quarters, like they do every week,” said Raiders head coach Joe Fadden. “The coaching staff and I are proud of them. Now we have to work hard and win on Saturday to be Super Bowl champs.  Nothing would make me happier than to see them win.”

Hasbrouck Heights returns to Elmwood Park this Saturday, November 16 at 11 a.m., to play Lyndhurst (10-0), who advanced to the Meadowlands Football League Super Bowl with a 20-0 win over Carlstadt/East Rutherford on Saturday. 

The above information was submitted by reader Faith Ballantine Armonaitis. Have a news tip or story you'd like to share? Email Joseph.Gerace@patch.com.